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Jordan, Guimaras – Petron Corporation began the next phase of its Ligtas Guimaras
program with the groundbreaking of the Petron School and the Petron Libray Hub. The construction of
these facilities signals the impending completion of Phase One of Petron’s cleanup and oil retrieval
operations.
“Today marks another
milestone in our continued efforts to move forward, seven months after the oil spill that hit the province of Guimaras,”
said Nicasio I. Alcantara, Petron Chairman and CEO. “We made a commitment to Guimaras and we are keeping that promise.”
In consecutive ceremonies in the
towns of Nueva Valencia and Jordan, executives of the country’s largest oil refining and marketing company were joined
by officials of the province and business partners to witness the groundbreaking of the two education facilities that
will benefit the children and youth of the province.
The Petron School is a four-classroom building
structure to be built in Brgy. Tando in Nueva Valencia. With the existing Tando Elementary School already marked for demolition,
Petron is putting up in its place a new structure that will give grade school students a new venue for learning. Once completed,
this Petron School will have four classrooms, new sets of chairs, electric fans, adequate lighting and clean restrooms for boys
and girls. This school will also have a training component for members of the Parent-Teacher-Community Associations, as well as
other support programs for the community. Petron is building the school in partnership with the Department of Education through
funds raised by its employees and matched by the company. Habitat for Humanity-Philippines will take charge of the construction.
The Petron Library Hub that will be established
in Brgy. San Miguel in Jordan marks the first time that the company is constructing a building for this purpose. Conceptualized
by the DepEd in response to the problem of inadequate books and teaching resources supplies in the public school system, the
Library Hub make books and resources available to teachers and administrators for several schools within the designated area.
The books are grouped into bundles, with each school allowed to borrow a book bundle and store them in their libraries or reading
corners. They can then make these books it available to their teachers and students for a period of 30 days. The Petron Library
Hub in Guimaras has received an initial 36,000 books from the San Francisco Public Library (USA) and Bato Balani Foundation.
The Petron Library Hub is a joint undertaking
among Petron, Saudi Aramco, Sa Aklat Sisikat Foundation, Petron Dealers Association, San Francisco Public Library (USA) and
Bato Balani Foundation.
Both the Petron School and Petron Library Hub will
be built simultaneously and are expected to be completed in time for the opening of classes in June.
“These two facilities for learning are tangible
manifestations of our commitment to improve the lives of the Guimarasnons,” said Petron President Khalid D. Al-Faddagh.
“Even as we exert every effort to help in the environmental rehabilitation and ecological recovery, we believe that it is
equally important to invest where it will matter most, especially in the fight to overcome poverty. And that is in the children
and the youth.”
Efforts to remove any remaining oil from
the M/T Solar 1 is already underway, with the oil recovery ship Allied Shield presently conducting operations on the sunken vessel.
Beyond the oil recovery, Petron is looking forward to the long-term rehabilitation of the province, which includes the establishment
of mariculture farms, among others.
Additionally, Petron is set to open soon a new service
station in the town of Jordan. Strategically located on a 600 sq.m. property near the Jordan Wharf, this facility is expected to
bring Petron’s world-class products and services closer to the people of the province.
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